Two weeks ago, Marion Grice slipped through a hole and ran four yards into the end zone, a game-tying touchdown in Arizona State’s rivalry showdown against Arizona.

The junior running back raised an index finger and jogged back to the ASU sideline, shaking hands with junior tight end Chris Coyle and low-fiving senior running back Cameron Marshall. As far as touchdowns go, this was one of ASU’s bigger of the season and yet Grice handled it just as he has most things in his first year with the Sun Devils: with little emotion.

“Marion Grice has just one tone, and it’s the Grice tone,” freshman defensive tackle Jaxon Hood said. “I’ve rarely seen him smile. He’ll joke around sometimes, and when he (does), it’s a big deal. He’s one of the most low-key people I’ve been around. He’s a quiet cat, but he’s right on the field, man.”

In a season that began with a sea of questions, Grice has been a strong wave, building momentum as the season has progressed. In addition to his team-high 17 touchdowns, the junior-college transfer, who hasn’t started once, is closing in on the team rushing lead, trailing Marshall by just four yards. Entering the Dec.29 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, he also has caught 39 passes for 406 yards.

Coach Todd Graham says he knew Grice would be a significant factor this season but figured it just might take a while. It wasn’t like Grice was getting a ton of carries (he’s actually fourth on the team behind Marshall, sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly and freshman D.J. Foster). He had 14 carries in ASU’s opener against Northern Arizona, but most came with the outcome already decided. The next week against Illinois he had just three touches.

“If you’re in there every down, you get more reps and you grasp the system faster,” Graham said. “I think he just started to grasp things towards the last half of the season.”

With a knack for picking up yards after contact, Grice had five catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns against Colorado. Three weeks later he rushed for 48 yards and caught six passes for 69 yards, combining for three scores against UCLA. On Nov.23, he rushed for a season-high 156 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona.

And throughout the entire stretch, he looked like he …

“Wasn’t trying hard? Is that what you were going to say?” senior linebacker Brandon Magee asked.

Offensive coordinator Mike Norvell said: “Marion’s personality is almost like how he runs. When you watch him run, he’s so fluid. He’s just so smooth in everything he does.”

Magee laughs.

“When I sit on the bench, I always watch the (video board) because I can’t see the game. I see Marion running, and it’s just so fun to watch,” he said. “Everyone looks like they’re straining, trying so hard to tackle him and he’s kind of like in (slow motion), making everybody miss.

“And then when he scores, he’ll walk to the sideline and it’s like this” — Magee walks a few feet with a straight face — “he doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t celebrate or anything. The most I’ve seen him do is throw up the pitchfork and he actually did it wrong, but he’s a heck of a player.”

Grice (6-feet, 190 pounds) says he tries not to get too excited because his job is to make plays. That’s what he does. That’s who he is. As for picking up yards after contact?

“It’s an everyday practice thing,” Grice said. “(Running backs) Coach (Larry) Porter preaches to us about breaking tackles and keeping our legs moving, so that’s something we work on every day.”

Before the season, Kelly, the quarterback, watched Grice’s highlight video from Blinn Community College in Brenham, Texas, and thought, “Hey, this kid could be pretty good.”

As the season unfolded, Coyle, the tight end, noticed Grice’s ability to produce in key moments. “He’s just able to find the holes that you don’t expect to be there,” Coyle said.

And as the Sun Devils prepare for their bowl game, Graham can’t help but wonder what Grice will be like next season, with a year in the system under his belt.

“He’s only scratched the surface on how good he can be,” the coach said. “With the ball in space, he’s a very special guy.”

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